Apparatus for filling and compacting material in bags and having a retractable bag bottom abutment member



Oct. 6, 1953 NDSETH 2 654,518

H. V. Kl APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND COMPACTING MATERIAL IN BAS AND HAVING A RETRACTABLE BAG BOTTOM ABUTMENT MEMBER Filed April 9, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

4 #119040 M/f/NDSE TH IG. 1

w A TTbENEYs Oct. 6, 1953 H. v. KINDSETH 2,654,518

APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND COMPACTING MATERIAL IN BAGS AND HAVING A RETRACTABLE BAG BOTTOM ABUTMENT MEMBER Filed April 9. 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

2 E HARowMIflNoJ/ETH l6.

EMMA

ATTORNEYS Oct. 6, 1953 H. v. KINDSETH 2,654,518

APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND COMPACTING MATERIAL IN BAGS AND HAVING A RETRACTABLE BAG BOTTOM ABUTMENT MEMBER Filed April 9, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

fiAeoLo M INDSETH B H. v. KINDSETH 2,654,518 FILLING AND COMPACTING MATERIAL IN BAGS RETRACTABLE BAG BOTTOM ABUTMENT MEMBER Oct. 6, 1953 APPARATUS FOR AND HAVING A 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April M W R ms e mm m mm mi WV wwv Oct. 6, 1953 H. v. KINDSETH 2,554,513

. APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND COMPACTING MATERIAL IN BAGS AND HAVING A RETRACTABLE BAG BOTTOM ABUTMENT MEMBER Filed April 9. 1949 I I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 60 r :j 6a

[1 -1 s7 s7 ri 56 1 II: .I

' 55 es 4 r 64 I I .l l 66 54- I 86 83 as 1 $4 [-1 as r 87 a7 89 s1 94 /l-'- as I I 88 L! Li INVENTOR. 3 finfiowk/filvossru H66 BZMQQJM A-r-Talelygks Patented Oct. 6, 1953 ,RETRAGIABLE MEMBER BAG BQTIGM worming:

to Bemis Br Bag company, Minneapolis,

Mmm, a corporation of Misso Application April 9, l94 9,Serial,No.Bfi.552

This invention relates to new and -i'iseiu1 improvements in apparatusadafited for settling or compacting finely gronna granular material "in containers during the operation of :filiing "the 'eont'a'iners. I

An object of the present invention'is to provide an ap aratus for settling and com acting material in a fiexible'walled bag -whilethe-bag "is pendently-supported in mid-fair v:lie'neatn afpacker tube.

A {further object is to provide an -apparatus of the character disclosed comprising a suftable'bag h'OIClGl' adapted "grip the 'bag *tifi'p walls and support the bag positionbver-the discharge end of a packer'tube, ane'means being provided for imparting a shaking movement-to the bag while suspended below the packer tube to receive a, charge, thereby to causetne material te-become firmly compacted in the b'a'g.

A further object is to rovide-an-apparatus for compacting comminut'ed material in fieiiible walled containers, comprising a bag holder adapted to be fitted over the dischargeendof a packer tube and provided with-s'ditabl'e jaws for gripping the walls of a bag top to *s'ecurethe bag in position under the packer spent to receive a charge, and a mechanism being 'operativly connected to the bag holder for imparting a'sh'aking motion thereto ina vertical plane'durifngthe filling operation, including-a movable platform adapted to be intermittently engaged by theb'ag bottom as the bag is rapidlymoved up and down by the shaker mechanism, andwhere'by the bag body is constantly being bounced up and down on said platform to cause the materiarteb-eceme firmly compacted therein, after whichthe platform is swung to an inoperativep'osition 'to 'pe'rmit the filled bag to'be delivered on't'oa suitable conveyor.

A further object "is toprovide anapparatu-s-of the class described comprising a pneumatically operated bag holder adapted to gripthe Walls of a bag top to support thebag' in -position-oma packer tube, and means being provided for-imparting a vibratory-action tc-"the"bag holde'ri'n an up and down direction,whereby thegbag bottom may be bou'nce'd'up'and dowmon a pivoted platform supported under the packer tube, said platform being operatively associated with the vibrating mechanism, whereby whenithe bagilias received its full charge, andtheoperations ,of. the vibrating mechanism and ,the packer tube are interrupted, the bag holderisactuated to release the bag and simultaneously ,the iplatferm :is

swung out ofthe -way;,of; the bagitocpermitrgthm filled bag to be delivered into;a;suitable conveyor. Other objects of the "invention reside -in 'the simple and inexpensive ccnstruction;of the-eapparatus whereby it may be manai'actureeet I small cost; in the meanenter=-mevat1ysupper-ting* eers f2, Baird eg z-eem ismeaaesuitable,:iram

the 'ba *holderon the packer tube whereby the *bagfh' r ffiel? moved and down the packer tube by thevibrating mechanism; era-the aa-raiaeemeat of the tag Stop gripping jaws and the parallel armsior support ng the :bag homer and t?) one at which the bag shaking fiiean-s is tear-g ted; in the specific construction =e f the means-{crew igih g thepl'atforin into and but "of operative relation respect to the bag body; and intheprov'sion of a portable shaker of the elass desciibed which is highly efficient and eraetieal :bperation, and is self =containe'd, whereby it may :b' conveniently moved about -irom J one "place a to another, when necessary.

These and etherbbjects of the invention and the'me'ans forthei-i attainment wil-l be more apnarent item the following description :taken in connection with the aeeompanyingdraiwings.

the .Ja'ceompahying :dratvings there has been disclosed a structure designed ;to carry out the avariedsnbjtrbts-bf the invention, .but;it is to be understood .itheititheiinvention is not confined to :the eizaetifeatures 'shown as .iva'rious changes may :be smade with'in the scope of the claims which tollow.

:In the .idrawing's Figure :1 ist a ,:side.=e1evati0nal view of the apparatus; showing .-;.a '5 bag ysuspendedifrom the bag holder yW-ith itsglowier'end ei-itqo'f engagement with th a utm n platform; l 'igurejgi sa viewfiimilartoyfl'igure lshowing qthe beg 512911181 int-its lowered ,zposition with the bag bcttcm-cneaeine p a mz Eigure is :a i-viewesimilar v:to Figures :1 and :2 but showing theabutment platformrin inoperat v ,e ositicn etozncrmit the led has to be delivered onto the receiving conveyor;

Figure 4 is asectional planview on the line 4-4 of Figured:

zzFigures5is attentional -p1an:=view on the line afia5-ofs-Figure 1;

rFi'gure :6 is a detailsectienal-yiew o'n-the line :62-45 ofFigu 're eg and "iFigtii *7 is na'gmentary sectional view on x 5 time the 7 ef'ngurerarihcwmg tne means for ,zadiufifififit.

(Stzpporthfijraine The nevelrr'fl lifi tatusi herein-disclosed is --shown 'preferably of struczeqmprising; front. and-rear base zrespectively and sldefra'me mbers izwhiehw-inayibe suitably --seoured'tow ste t ctialiantlaliugged "truetuie. *Uiii'ight tram-e m the packer tube.

- The links 22 are secured to cured to uprights l5, interposed between the horizontal frame members 9 and I.

Bag holder An important feature of'the present invention 2 crank pin; 43.1 adjustably securedthereto by such means as the adjusting screw 44, shown in Figure 7. A pitman 45 has one end engaging the crank pin 43 and its opposite end a tie member resides in the means provided for supporting each Y 7 the operation of filling each bag. 7

The bag holder generally designated by the numeral I1, is shown comprising a tubular member l8 fitting over the ijlower end portion N5 of Suitable sealing means, not shown, is provided for preventing spouting of the material from the bag top between the member l8 and the periphery of the bag top durin the filling operation.

Opposed bag holding jaws I 9 partially surround the cylindrical portion l8 of the bag holder, and are shown supported by parallel links 2| and 22. horizontally disposed arms 23 supported on suitable pivots 24 shown mounted in the lower portion of a member 25, forming a part of the bag holder. The arms 22 and 23 at each side of the bag holder I'I cooperate to provide a bellcrank. The upright arms 22 of the bellcranks are secured to the jaws l9, and the swingable ends of the horizontal arms 23 are secured to suitable toggles generally designated by the numeral 26.

The two toggles 26 are preferably arranged to be operated simultaneously by pneumatic means, shown comprising an air cylinder 21 having one end connected to one of the toggles 26, and a piston being mounted Within the Cylinder 21 and having a piston rod 28 operatively connected to the other toggle, as clearly illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Thus, when airis admitted into the cylinder 21 through the air supply conduit 29, the piston rod 28 is retracted as shown in Figures 1 and 2, thereby to simultaneously actuate the toggle mechanisms 26 to cause the bag .holder jaws l9 to firmly grip the walls of the bag,

as best illustrated in Figure 2. When the flow of air to the cylinder is reversed, the jaws l9 are actuated to release the bag top walls. The air supply conduits 29 and 3| are connected to a suitable air supply and control means, not shown in the drawings.

Bag holder shaking means The bag holder shaking means is clearly illus-. trated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and operates to impart an up and down shaking movement to the bag holder and a bag supported thereon. An important feature of the present invention resides in grasping each bag by its top walls and suspending it from the bag holder while rapidly shaking it up and down to settle its contents.

The bag holder l'lis supported at the outer ,ends of spaced pairs of parallel arms 32 and 33 having pivotal connections with the bag holder at opposite sides thereof, as shown at 34 and 35. The opposite ends of the arms are shown connected to shafts or pivots 36 and 31 supported in brackets 38 and 39, respectively, secured to the upper end portions of the upright framemembers 6. V

The means for imparting a vibratory or shaking motion to the bag suspended from the bag holder is shown comprising a cross shaft 4| mounted in bearings 42 and having a suitable 40, interposedbetween and secured to the lower arms 33 of the bag shaking mechanism. The cross shaft 4lxis shown driven from a suitable motor 46 by a chain 41 having a running connection'with a sprocket 48 secured to the shaft 4|. w r v Abutment platform To facilitate quickly settling the material in the bags, an abutment platform, generally designated by the numeral 49, is mounted for pivotal movement about'the axis of a cross shaft 50. The shaft 50 is'supported in the outer ends of a pair of arms 5| secured to a shaft 60, shown mounted in suitable brackets secured to the cross member l3 of the supporting frame. Rivets 63 secure the shaft 50 against relative rotation in rear portion 59 adapted to receive suitable slides 6| mounted on a shaft 62 supported in the front ends of the arms 55, as perhaps best illustrated in Figur 6. The slides 6| are preferably rectangular in configuration and are adapted for sliding movement in the slots 58. Each slide 5| preferably has a flange 64 adapted to engage one side of its complementary bracket 54, and a washer 65 is mounted on th shaft 62 at the opposite side of each bracket 54. Collars 66 are secured to the ends of the shaft 62 adapted to retain the movable parts in position thereon, it being understood that a slide 65 is provided at each end of the shaft adapted for movement in the slots 58 in the brackets 54, as will subsequently be described. The rearwardly directed ends of the arms 55, as hereinbefore stated, are secured to a horizontal shaft 56 adapted for direct move- .ment with said arms.

from t e b l r l, as shown in Figure 3,

a suitable cam 67 is mounted on the shaft 59 between the triangular brackets 54, as shown in Figure 6. Suitable means, such as a rivet 68, secures the cam against relative rotation on the shaft 50, whereby it is retained in the same relative position with respect to the arms 5 l, regardless of the positions of said arms.

Operating means for platform The means for automatically operating the platform 49 is best shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5,

- and comprises a cylinder 69, the upper head H of which is shown provided with lugs 12 apertured to receive a pivot pin 13 mounted in a bracket 14 secured in fixed position upon the supporting frame of the machine.

A piston 15 is mounted for reciprocal movement in the cylinder 69, and has a rod 16 projecting from the lower end thereof. The lower end of the piston rod '|6 is connected to an arm 11 by apt-4,5 1e

a suitable pivot pin '18, and the arm T1 is secured "to one end of the shaft 56 and is operable therewith as a unit. Fluid supply conduits 19 and 81 are connected at one end of the upper and lower ends of the cylinder 69 and have-their opposite ends connected to a conventional ffluid control valve, not shown, which in turn may be connected to a supply of fluid under pressure, not shown in the drawings.

Operation In the operation of the novel bag packerherein disclosed, the mouth of an empty bag is fitted over the packer tube 1 B, as shownin Figure 1 with its upper marginal edges of the bag top walls being inserted between the jaws 19 of the bag holder and the upper cylinder portion 82 of the tubular member EB. When the bag reaches the position shown in Figure 1, the operator engages 'a-control device (not shown), which causes the air supply means to deliver air to the cylinders=2l and 69, whereby the toggle devices 26 are simultaneously actuated to move the jaws into gripping engagement with the bag top walls, and at the same time the piston rod 75 is moved downwardly to restore the platform '49 to its operative position, shown in Figures land 2.

When the empty bag has thus been secured to the packer tube, the current supply circuit for the motor, not shown, is closed, whereupon the shaft 4! is rotated by a chain drive 4'! to cause the crank pin 43 to operate and impart a vibratory motion to the bag holder I! and th bag secured thereto, as a result'of the 'pitman 45 being operatively connected to the arms 33 of the bag holder by the member' iil. The crank pin imparts an up and down movement to the bag holder in rapid succession, whereby the bottom of the bag is bounced up and down on the platform 4'9, thereby to cause the contents of the bag to become firmly settled therein.

When the contents of the bag has thus become firmly compacted in the bag body, and the correct weight of material has been'delivered thereinto, the supply of current to the motor is automatically interrupted, and simultaneously, the feeding of material from the packer tube It into the bag is interrupted, as is well known. Such interruption 'ofthe packer tube will caus actuation of the toggles 26, whereby the bag holder jaws l9 are actuated to release the bag top. Simultaneously, the piston rod 76 is retracted, thereby upwardly swinging the arms 55 from the positions shown in Figure 1 to the upright position shown in Figure 3, whereby the slides 6| travel upwardly in theslots-58, as will be understood by reference to Figures 2 and 3.

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of the came-l, which issecured in fixed relation to the shaft 50 and is engaged by a roller 83, rotatably supported on the intermediate portion of shaft 52, as best illustrated in Figure 6.

The contour of the working face of cam '67 is such that when the roller '33 engages the face of the cam, the cam, including the outer ends of the arms 5|, are quickly swung upwardly to the positions shown in Figure 3, causing the platform 49 to be moved out of the path of the bag so that the latter may drop by'gravity'onto the conveyor belts 84. The conveyor belts 84 arepreferably inwardly canted, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, so that a bag may be transported thereby without danger of the bag tipping over.

The machine may readily be adjusted for bags of different heights by simply adjusting the positionofthe platform 49 with relation to the bot-* tom of the packer tube 1:6. To thus adjust the machine for bags of different heights, spaced posts 35, preferably square in cross section, slidably supported in guide brackets 86, whereby the posts are adapted 'for relative vertical movement.

Each post 85 is inte'riorly threaded longitudinally to receive adjusting rods 87 having their lower ends secured in suitable bearings 88, secured to the machine frame. A chain drive '89 operatively connects together the threaded rods 81 for simultaneous rotation, thereby to facilitate translating the'posts 85 in their guides 66. I The upper ends'of the posts-a5 engage the ends-of the arms 5: and provide stops for their downward movement, whereby the platform will thereby come to rest at a sele'c'ted position with 're'spect'to the bottom of the packer tube It.

An operating shaft 9| has one end supported in a bracket 92 and has a pinion 93 secured thereto which meshes with abevel gear'94 secured to one of the threaded rods 81, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2. An operating Wheel or member 95 is secured to the other end of the operating shaft 9! whereby the operator of the machine may readily rotate the shaft 9| to adjust the position of the platform 19 with respect to the packer tube, as will be understood with reference -to-Figure 2.

The various control elements and devices-utilized for controlling the'op'erationof the apparatus have not been shown in the drawings, as they are of well known construction and may be arranged in any desired manner toobta'in the desired results. They are 'p1"' -;ferably-'so arranged that the machine will go through a complete cycle of operation, each time a bag -i'sfit'ted over the packer tube and secured thereto by the bag holder jaws l9. s

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal objects of my invention, and it will also be apparent to those skilled in t e art that the embodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified without departing "from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses'and has advantages not herein specifically described;hence itwill be appreciated that the herein disclosedembodiments are illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a holder for supportinga bag in position under the discharge end "of a charge, an arm-having one end pivoted tothe'fra'lne' and its opposite end to the bag holder, means operatively connected with said arm "for imparting pivotal movement thereto in rapid succession thereby to-iinpart a shaking movement to the bag suspended "from the bag holder, 3, bag bottomengagingmernber, a

guide link having one end pivoted to'the machine frame and its oppositeend toithe upper portion of said member, a relatively "shorter link having one end pivoted to the machine frame and its opposite end to said member, said shorter link having a sliding connection with said member, and m ans for actuating said shorter link-to move the member into or out of ba-g enga ging position.

2. In an apparatus "of the class described, a supporting frame, a bag holder 'for supporting a bag in position under the discharge end or "a, packer tube to receive a charge, an arin having one end pivoted to the'frame-and its-opposite end to the bag holder, "means -eperativel connected -whereby the bag bottom of said member, a relatively shorter link having one end pivoted to the machine frame and its opposite end to said member, said shorter link having a sliding connection with said member, a cam mounted in fixed relation to said relatively longer link, and means carried by the outer end of the shorter link adapted to engage said cam and thereby retract said member from its operative position beneath the bag bottom, When the bag has been filled and is released from the bag holder 3. In an apparatus for filling flexible-walled bags and settling the contents therein, a frame, a bag holder comprising a cylindrical member adapted to be fitted over the discharge end of a conventional packer tube, opposed jaws on said cylindrical member operable clampingly to secure the upper end walls of the bag body thereto, toggle means for simultaneously actuating said jaws, a pair of arms having their corresponding ends horizontally pivoted to the frame and their opposite ends to the bag holder, a pair of arms for supporting the bag holder, said arms being horizontally pivoted at one end to the ma chine frame and pivoted at their other ends to the bag holder, fluid-operated means for simultaneously actuating said toggle means for operating said jaws, a pitman having one end pivotally connected to said arms, crank means for operating the pitman to impart a vibratory up and down motiton to the bag holder to settle the contents of a bag supported thereon during the filling thereof, a retractable abutment member adapted to be positioned to be engaged by the bottom of the bag supported in said holder will intermittently engage said abutment member in rapid succession, when the supporting arms for the bag holder are moved up and down, thereby to cause the material to become settled firmly in the bag during the filling operation, links mounted for pivotal movement in the supporting frame and having their swingable ends operatively connected to said retractable member, upwardly concave conveyor means positioned beneath said retractable abutment member, and means for actuating said links to automatically retract said abutment member from a position above the conveyor when the filled bag is released from the bag holder, thereby to permit the bag to be delivered directly onto said upwardly concave conveyor belt.

4. In an apparatus for filling containers and settling the contents therein, a supporting frame, a holder adapted to be fitted over the discharge end of a conventional packer tube, means operable to secure a, container thereto, means for vibrating said holder to settle the contents in the container, a retractable abutment member adapted to be positioned to be engaged by the bottom of the container, links each having one end mounted for pivotal movement in the supporting frame and having their swingable ends operatively connected to said abutment member, a second pair of links pivoted on the machine frame and having their swingable ends slidably connected to the abutment member, cam means movable with said first links, and means carried by said second links for engaging said cam means to effect retraction of said abutment member when the filled bag is released from the bag holder.

5. In an apparatus for filling flexible-Walled bags and settling the contents therein, a support ing frame, a bag holder adapted to be fitted over the discharge end of a conventional packer tube, means to clampingly secure the upper end walls of a bag body thereto, means for imparting an up and down shaking motion to said bag holder, a retractable abutment member adapted to be positioned to be engaged by the bottom of the bag, upper parallel links each having one end pivoted in the supporting frame and having their other ends pivoted tosaid retractable abutment member, slides disposed in said abutment member, a second pair of links each having one end pivoted in the supporting frame and having their other ends connected to said slides, and means operable to adjustably position said abutment member relative to the bottom of the bag supported in said holder.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further characterized by a cam being operatively connected to said first links in fixed relation thereto and positioned to be engaged by means carried by said second links for quickly effecting the retraction of said abutment member.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a frame, a packer tube, a bag holder comprising a member adapted to be fitted over the discharge end of the packer tube, parallel arms for mounting the bag holder on the packer tube and whereby the bag holder is adapted for relative vertical movement thereon, opposed jaws on the bag holder for securing a bag top thereto, toggle means for simultaneously actuating said jaws to grip the walls of the bag top, a mechanism for imparting a shaking action to the bag holder comprising a pitman having one end operatively connected to said parallel arms and having its opposite end connected to a crank, means for operating the crank, a retractable bag bottom engaging member mounted on the supporting frame and normally positioned directly beneath the bottom of the bag in fixed relation to the machine frame and upon which the bottom of the bag is continuously bounced when the bag shaking mechanism is actuated during the bag filling operation, links mounted for pivotal movement in the supporting frame below said parallel arms and having their swingable ends movably connected to the bag bottom engaging member, and

'means operatively connected to said links adapted, when actuated, to automatically swing said member out of the path of the bag bottom, when the bag has received its full charge and is released from the bag holder.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a cam is carried by certain of said links for effecting complete retraction of the bag bottom engaging member, when actuated, and a pneumatic device is provided for actuating said links to effect the retraction cf the bag bottom engaging member.

HAROLD V. KINDSETH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

